Toy



March 13, 1962 M. R. NIF-'KE 3,024,567

Toy

Filed Feb. 29, 1960 57 wx@ /V/FA/E Unite States 3,024,561 ToY Max R. Niflre, 1031 Case Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,594 6 Claims. (Cl. i6-124) This invention relates to toys and more specifically to a toy which when actuated simulates a feeding-like action of a plurality of bird-like figures.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel toy, of simple and inexpensive construction, which is arranged and constructed for easy operation and when operated, simulates a feeding-like action of a plurality of bird-like figures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel toy including a plurality of bird-like figures positioned within a house with their heads extending outwardly therefrom and including actuating means arranged and constructed to cause oscillation of the bird-like figures in a manner to simulate a feeding-like action.

A more speci-fic object of this invention is to provide a novel toy including a plurality of bird-like figures positioned in side-by-side relation within a house with their heads extending outwardly therefrom and positioned above a feeding support, and actuating means for oscillating the bird-like figures in a manner to simulate a feeding-like action.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of my novel OY;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately along line 2-2 of FIG. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of my novel toy with the top thereof removed.

One embodiment of my invention as seen in the drawings comprises a house designated in its entirety by reference numeral 1t). This house 10 includes a substantially flat rectangular bottom wall 11 having upright end or side walls 12 secured thereto at opposite edges thereof and having an upright rear wall 13 secured thereto. House also includes a front wall 14 whose height is slightly larger than that of the rear wall 13 and which is provided with a plurality o-f vertically extending slots 15 which defines a plurality of vertically extending slats 16. Referring now to FIG. 2, it will b'e seen that the slats 16 are interconnected and reinforced adjacent their upper ends by a cross piece 17.

A substantially fiat rectangular roof 1S is removably positioned upon the upper edges of the respective front, rear side walls and roof 1'8 is provided with stop means 19 in the form of elongate strips which are secured to the underside of the roof and which engage the front and rear wall respectively to retain these in place as best seen in FIG. 2. The roof is inclined forwardly as a result of the slightly higher front wall 14.

Referring now to FIG. l, it will be noted that slots 15 are of equal size and configuration and that these slots terminate at their lower ends substantially above the lower edge of the front wall. An elongate, horizontally-disposed feeding support 2t) is secured to the exterior surface of front wall 14 adjacent the lower terminal portions of the slots 15. It will be noted that feeding support spans the entire longitudinal extent of front wall 14 and includes a substantially flat elongate, generally rectangular bottom wall 2-1 having an elongate opstanding front flange 22 secured thereto and having y 3,024,567 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 upstanding end iianges 23 having their upper surfaces slightly rearwardly declined.

An elongate rod 2d is positioned within housing 10 and extends transversely between side walls `12 and supported thereby as best seen in FIG. 3. A plurality of substantially upright, bird-like figures 25 are mounted for swinging oscillation on rod 24 and each of these bird-like gures has a head portion 26 and a body portion 27. In the embodiment shown, the bird-like figures are of similar construction and configuration and the head-like portion of each of the bird-like figures extends through one of the slots 15 while the body portion 27 of each of these birds is positioned within the interior of the house' 10. It will also be noted, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, that the head portions 26 are positioned above the feeding support 20 for movement toward and away 'from the feeding support. Each of the bird-like figures 25 has a curved bottom belly surface 28 extending generally rearwardly from the rod 24, the function of which will be described hereinbelow.

Means are also provided for producing swinging oscillation of the bird-like figures and includes an elongate shaft position within house 10 and extending transversely between side walls 12 with the end portions of the shaft being journalled within these side walls. Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be noted that shaft 29 is positioned slightly below and somewhat rearwardly of rod 24 and is provided with a plurality of eccentric cams 30. In the present embodiment, these cams 30 as seen in FIG. 2 are actually U-shaped bends formed in shaft 29, which bends extend radially outwardly from the general longitudinal axis of the shaft. It will also be noted that cams 30 are disposed in angulated relation with respect to each other and in the present embodiment, each cam 30 is offset relative to the next adjacent cam. With this staggered arrangement of the cams, rotation of shaft 29 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3 will cause the cam 39 to be moved against the curved belly surface 2S of its associated bird-like figure and will cam the rear portion of the bird-like ligure upwardly thereby pivoting the bird about rod 24 which urges the head portion downwardly towards the feeding support 20. Further rotation of shaft 29 will cause the cam 30 to be moved away from its associated bird-like figure and because of the position of the bird-like vfigures 25 on the rod 24, a state of equilibrium or balance of these birdlike figures will be recahed only when the head portion 26 of the bird-like figure is positioned upwardly away from the feeding trough 20 so that the curved belly portion is normally in engagement with its associated cam. Thus the staggered relation of the cams 30 longitudinally along shaft 29 plus the manner in which the bird-like figures 25 are mounted on rod 24 will produce a swinging oscillation of these bird-like figures when elongate shaft 29 is rotated. This oscillating movement of these birdlike figures will simulate a feeding-like action. Shaft 29 extends outwardly from one of the side walls 12 and has an offset portion defining a handle 31 which facilitates rotation of the shaft.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel toy device including a plurality of bird-like gures pivotally mounted in a house and which includes manually operable cam means which when actuated will cause oscillation of the bird-like figures thereby simulating a feeding-like action. It will be noted that in my novel toy device, the bird-like figures which are oscillated, are not directly connected to the actauting means but merely engage the actuating means so there is little danger of malfunctioning of my novel toy device. It will also be noted that because of its uniquely simple construction and operation, my novel toy is especially adaptable for small children.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a supporting structure, a substantially horizontal rod on the supporting structure, a plurality of substantially upright, bird-like figures mounted for vertical swinging oscillation on said rod so that the heads of each bird-like figure is moved between elevated and lowered position, each of said figures having a curved bottom belly surface extending generally rearwardly from the rod, means defining a feed-supporting surface spaced below the heads of the bird-like figures, each of said birdlike figures being mounted on said rod so that the former when in a state of equilibrium and in the absence of external force will have their heads disposed in elevated position a drive shaft journalled on the supporting structure and having a plurality of eccentric cams each engaging the belly surface of a corresponding bird-like figure and producing swinging oscillation of the bird-like gure when the shaft is revolved to cause the heads of the birdlike figures to be moved towards the feed-supporting surface, and means for rotating the shaft, whereby to simulate a feeding-like action of the bird-like figures.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein some of said cams are angularly offset with respect to other of said cams.

3. A toy comprising a house including upstanding peripheral `walls and having a roof positioned upon said walls, one of said walls having a plurality of upright apertures formed therein, a substantially horizontal rod positioned within said house for support thereby, a plurality of substantially upright, bird-like iignires positioned within said house and mounted for vertical swinging oscillation on said rod so that the head of each bird-like figure is moved between elevated and lowered positions, each of said figures having its head extending outwardly of said house through one of said apertures and having a curved bottom belly surface extending generally rearwardly from the rod, means defining a feed supporting surface spaced below the heads of the bird-like figures, each of said birdlike gures being mounted on said rod in such a manner that the former when in a state of equilibrium and in the absence of external force will have their heads disposed in an elevated position, a drive shaft rotatably mounted with the house and having a plurality of eccentric cams each engaging the belly surface of a corresponding bird-like figure and producing swinging oscillation of the bird-like figure when the shaft is revolved to cause the heads of the bird-like figures to be moved towards the feed-supporting surface, and means for rotating the shaft whereby to simulate a feeding-like action of the bird-like figures.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said roof is removable.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein some of said eccentric cams are disposed in angulated relation with respect to other of said cams.

6. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said shaft comprises a handle conneoted to said shaft and positioned eXteriorly of the house.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STAT ES PATENTS 1,789,095 Berger Jan. 13, 1931 2,398,471 Short et al. Apr. 16, 1946 2,402,463 Sullivan June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 263,377 Germany Aug. 8, 1913 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. 3,024,567 March 13, 1961.

Max R. Nifke It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pai ent requiring correction and that the -sad Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line ll, for "with" read -B- within Signed and sealed this 19th day of June 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. swIDER DAVID L LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

